Tangasseri Lighthouse

Tangasseri Lighthouse or Thangassery Lighthouse is situated at Tangasseri in Kollam city of the Indian state of Kerala.[2][3] It is one of the two lighthouses in the Kollam Metropolitan Area and is maintained by the Cochin Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships.[4][5] In operation since 1902,[6] the cylindrical lighthouse tower painted with white and red oblique bands has a height of 41 metres (135 ft), making it the second tallest lighthouse in Kerala coast.[7] Tangasseri Lighthouse is one of the most visited lighthouses in Kerala.[8]

Tangasseri Lighthouse
The lighthouse in 2017
LocationTangasseri, Kollam, India
Coordinates8°52′50″N 76°33′57″E
Tower
Constructed1902
Foundationreinforced concrete
Constructionmasonry tower
Height41 metres (135 ft)[1]
Shapecylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern
Markingsred and white diagonal stripe
Light
Focal height42 metres (138 ft) above mean sea level
Lens700 mm 2nd order 3 panel revolving optic inside 3.65 m diameter Lantern House (Chance Bros)
Intensity1,27,950 CDS (220/250 volt) AC 400W X 3 nos. (Metal Halide Lamps)
Range26 nautical miles (48 km; 30 mi)
CharacteristicFl (3) W 15s.

History

Prior to construction of the lighthouse, the British East India company had installed a tower with an oil lamp. In 1902 the present Tangasseri Lighthouse was completed, which by 1930 had suffered cracks in the tower that required jacketing masonry to be installed.[9] The light source was modified in 1932, 1940, 1962, 1967, 1990 and 1994.[10]

In 2016, the Tangasseri Lighthouse got an elevator facility for its visitors.[11]

Location

The lighthouse is located on the coast at Tangasseri in Kollam city and is one of the locations in India that still maintains Anglo-Indian culture. Tangasseri is home to remnants of an ancient Portuguese built coastal defence, the St Thomas Fort, a Portuguese Cemetery, a canal, the ancient Port of Quilon and the Infant Jesus Cathedral.[12][13][14]

Visitors are allowed access to the lighthouse between 11 am and 5 pm on all days except on Mondays.[15]

  • Upstairs in Tangasseri Lighthouse
    Upstairs in Tangasseri Lighthouse
  • Tangasseri Lighthouse
    Tangasseri Lighthouse
  • Close view of Tangasseri Lighthouse
    Close view of Tangasseri Lighthouse
  • A distant view of Tangasseri Lighthouse from Kollam Port Road
    A distant view of Tangasseri Lighthouse from Kollam Port Road
  • Information board in Thangassery Lighthouse
    Information board in Thangassery Lighthouse
  • Tangasseri Lighthouse as seen from Tangasseri breakwater
    Tangasseri Lighthouse as seen from Tangasseri breakwater

See also

References
  1. "Tourist Places in Kerala". Bizhat.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of India: Kerala and Karnataka". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. "Tangassery Point Light, Quilon/Kollam". World List of Lights (WLOL). Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. "Chennai Directorate – Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships". Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  5. "Rs. 1.11-cr. project to beautify road to Tangasseri lighthouse". The Hindu. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  6. "Tangasseri lighthouse to stay open for longer hours". The Hindu. January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  7. "New look for Tangasseri lighthouse". The Hindu. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  8. "Lighthouse sees rise in footfall". The Hindu. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  9. "Indian Lighthouses: An Overview" (PDF). DGLL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  10. "Indian Lighthouses – An overview" (PDF). DGLL India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  11. "Tangi's grand old lady to get a lift". The Hindu. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  12. "A brief history of Tangasseri". Rotary Club of Tangasseri. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  13. "Superb India Tours – Kollam". Superb India Tours. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  14. "Tangasseri – OOCITIES". OOCITIES. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  15. "Increase in Tangasseri Lighthouse Visiting Hours". Kerala News. 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
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